"With your majesty's permission, I will now add a few words," said
he.

"Speak!" said the king, laconically.

"His majesty, my royal master," continued Count Mattzahn, in a loud
voice, "has commissioned me to give your majesty the most quieting
assurances, and to convince you that his march through Saxony has no
purpose inimical to you, but that he only uses it as a passway to
Bohemia."

The king's countenance now became dark and stern, even the queen
lost some of her haughty indifference.

"How?" said the king; "Frederick of Prussia does us the honor to
pass through our land without permission? He intends coming to
Saxony?"

"Sire," said Mattzahn, with a slight smile, "his majesty is already
there! Yesterday his army, divided into three columns, passed the
Saxon borders!"

The king rose hastily from his seat. The queen was deadly pale, her
lips trembled, but she remained silent, and cast a look of bitter
hatred upon the ambassador of her enemy.

Count Bruhl was leaning against his chair, trembling with terror,
when the king turned to him.